Saturday, October 28, 2006

TCM Digs Up Six Lost RKO Features


Turner Classic Movies, continuing to set the standard for cinephiles, recently announced it is restoring six early RKO pictures previously thought to be lost. The films will premiere on TCM in 2007.

Among the titles are some pre-code movies with quite a pedigree:

1933's "Double Harness," directed by John Cromwell, who would shortly after battle the censors and Production Code Administration chief Joseph Breen with his films "Ann Vickers" and "Of Human Bondage." This comedy stars Ann Harding and William Powell.

"One Man's Journey" (1933) - Drama featuring Lionel Barrymore and real-life couple Joel McCrea and Frances Dee.

"Rafter Romance" (1933) - William Seiter directs this comedy starring Ginger Rogers (before she was paired with Fred Astaire).

and William Wellman's "Stingaree," Irene Dunne's first musical at RKO (check out the rave at imdb from someone who screened this at Cinefest in 2001.

For more information on all the films and the restoration efforts, check out this press release.